Energy

Our Energy Plan

Of all the sustainability initiatives here at the college, Energy, and its resulting greenhouse gas emissions is perhaps the most pressing challenge facing us. The earth’s carbon dioxide levels are well over 400 ppm, and it is crucially important for Bates to get its greenhouse gas emissions house in order.

Adopted in 2010, the Bates Climate Action Plan set an ambitious goal of carbon neutrality of 2020 for the college. With the recent changes to our central heating plant – switching from fossil fuels to a renewable, tree-based fuel oil – as well as our intensive energy efficiency improvements, we are on track to meet our goal. Our campus carbon emissions have decreased by 95% from our baseline year of 2001, despite our growing building footprint. We are currently on track to meet our carbon neutrality goal by 2020. Here are some of the ways we hope to hit our targets.

Energy Projects

Energy Efficiency

John Rasmussen, our Energy Manager, has been working tirelessly to eliminate energy waste and make us energetically lean through energy efficiency measures. From attic insulation, to new windows, to enhanced building and motor controls, we are quickly eliminating wasteful systems and practices on campus.

Renewable Fuel Oil

We have converted our central steam plant from natural gas to a renewable fuel oil, which is a heating oil substitute made from tree offcuts. It has a greenhouse gas footprint of only 15% of heating oil, and is 100% renewable. Our central heating plant provides heating for 80% of our buildings. We are expecting this fuel switch to help us reduce Bates emissions enormously.

Lighting

Bates is in the process of converting its florescent lighting to LEDs campus-wide. LEDs last for 25 years, contain no mercury, and operate for a tenth of the electricity of incandescent bulbs. They also produce a better quality light, with no flicker effect and a more natural spectrum of colors.

Student Solar Installation

Bates students don’t shy away from getting their hands dirty. We have installed Bates’ first solar array with the help of Revision Energy and Bates students. It provides enough electricity throughout the year to power 100% of the parent building’s total electrical load.

Electric Car Charging Stations

Bates has installed 4 new electric car charging stations for students, staff, and faculty. Part of this installment was made possible by a grant from Tesla Motors. Why are we switching over from gas to electric? Aren’t emissions still being generated at the power plant? Find out how much greener the lifecycle costs of electric vehicles are here.

Buildings

Because it represents the largest section of our greenhouse gas emissions, the construction and operation of our buildings have been crucial to our success at reducing our footprint. Learn more about what our efficiency measures implemented on buildings are.

Honors

Bates has recently been labelled fourth in the world for its clean energy program by AASHE STARS. Among Baccalaureate colleges, our clean energy program is number one worldwide!

Transportation

We can cut down on our carbon footprint in little ways by offering more sustainable options to get out an about on and off campus. Check out some of these options: